Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1887-01-22
AOouRr sENsar1ox.


August BOSNIAN Correets EIis Previ-
Gus TestimOny-Even the Lawyers
Surprised-COnstabIe ssRods, austin
on the Stand-The Testimony All I'm.
The Morse arson case continued yesterday
as sensational as ever. The testimony was
all in by noon and court was adjourned till
next Tuesday morning at 10 o'clock, when
the arguments in the case will begin. The
cross-examination of Morse was continued in
the morning.
There were people enough present to fill
the court room, and when August BOSNIAN
was recalled by State Attorney Doolittle the
spectators were seized with feeling that
something else startling was coming out and
they were not in any way mistaken. Boss
man had been previously put on the stand
by the prosecution, but for some reason he
had testified dead against. His testimony
was an astonishing surprise to the prosecu-
ton, for he had in the borough court and in
his affidavit testified that he set the works
afire, and was hired and helped to do it by
Morse. But when he was brought into the
criminal court he said he knew nothing about
any fire, and never at any time did he have
any conversation with Morse about setting
the building afre.
The defense claimed that they were as
much surprised at his testimony as was the
prosecution. 1t may have been that they
were. But the prosecution claimed that w.
h. Ely, OF the law firm of Case, Maltby q
Deming, had been to the Jail to BOSNIAN.
Their insinuations were that Ely had piped
BOSNIAN to testify for the defense.
State Attorney Doolittle said to BOSNIAN
on his taking the stand that if he wished to
correct his testimony of the other day to go
on and do so from the beginning. An OBJ
lection was made by the defense. but the
Judge decided to allow the correction in
Bossman's testimony. The judge said, how
ever, that the defense could have every op-
portunity to reply, even if the case had to be
all gone over with again.
BOSNIAN, with foolhardiness becoming a
man in the most desperate of straits, threw
up his arms and dove head foremost into the
mire of peri ury. The witness then plunged
ahead: 'Before the fra had some trouble
with Frank Morse. He gave me $25 and I
told him had not been treated right and 1
did not want the job He gave me $50 more
after the fire. went to Danbury to attend
the fair. After came back Morse said he
was not quite ready; he must have row
with the glass blowers. In a few days he
told me he was ready and I made prepare
tons to burn the building
in which cut two or three holes in the bot
tom for ventilation. Between and 8
O'Clock Charles Manville, and Frank Morse
went down stairs and picked out good
place to set the fire. Frank went home and
l went to Northrop's store and waited ff-
teen minutes. Then went back and light
ed the candle. I had sprinkled kerosene
over some hay so that when the candle burn
ed down it would ignite. I then went home
with Charley Hall and went to bed. The
box got tipped over and did not work. A
little time after that Frank said he would
o. l.. ~, T
make a good job of it. I told him it
was not enough, and he offered me $175 and
I told him it was enough. I went to Merlden
and bought gallon of turpentine and spr1n-
killed. it over some barrels and hay and then
went down to the corner of Elm street. Pres
emily I heard the alarm of fire and ran into
small shed and waited few minutes. Then
went to the fire and inquired how it hap
pened. After the fire was out l went to bed
with Charley Hall"
The question with the defense then was
who fixed BOSNIAN to correct his testimony.
1t was a myster, but they evidently thought
the prosecution had got hold of him
since his first testimony. Lawyer Case
called Constable s'Rod" Austin, of
Wallingford, for the purpose of finding what
Wallace, Harrison, Glover and the witness
did at the time they visited BOSNIAN at the
Jail and got him to make his affidavit. Mr..
Doolittle's objection was overruled by the
court. Witness said
''We went to the jail from Gus Traeger's
in a herdic, Mr.. Wallace taking along a
bottle of whisky; we had one or two drinks
before we started. I paid for cigars and
Wallace paid for the whisky; we had whisky
at the jail; I do not know who passed it, but
BOSNIAN, Gilbert, another prisoner, Attor
ney Wallace and myself had several drinks
around, taking it direct from the bottle. 1
did not hear any promises made in the cell,
but just as we came away I heard Harrison
tell BOSNIAN that he would see Doolittle'
Mr. Case then tried to put in as evidence
the account between Attorney Harrison and
the town of Wallingford, but unavailingly,
after long controversy between the court
and Mr. Case. The defense had claimed that
this money in the account had been used to
bride BOSNIAN into making an affidavit.
After this the Judge excused the jury till
Tuesday morning.